A Special Issue is a collection of papers on a particular theme within the scope of the journal.
Special Issue is an effective way to draw attention to specific topics. Experienced researchers and practitioners are welcome to propose, organize the Special Issues around topics of their interest and expertise.
Once you propose a Special Issue, you will be the Lead Guest Editor of the Special Issue.
Usually a Special Issue can be finished within 6 months. A Special Issue should include at least 4 papers apart from 1 free paper from Lead Guest Editor.

Benefits of Being the Lead Guest Editor

● The Lead Guest Editor can keep himself up-to-date while reviewing a manuscript.
● The Lead Guest Editor can cooperate with a group of experienced researchers from all over the world.
● The Lead Guest Editor has a good chance to be promoted to the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal.
● The Lead Guest Editor can publish 1 paper for free in his own Special Issue.
● The Lead Guest Editor will receive the Certificate of Honor (electronic version).
● The Lead Guest Editor will receive a hard copy of the Special Issue for free when the Special Issue is finished successfully (if need).

Responsibilities of the Lead Guest Editor

● The Lead Guest Editor should organize a review team (at least 10 Guest Editors) to do the review work if there are manuscripts submitted to the Special Issue.
● The Lead Guest Editor should promote his/her Special Issue and invite authors to submit manuscripts. The journal will not release the papers if the number of papers can not achieve three.
● The Lead Guest Editor should make decisions on the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.
● The Lead Guest Editor should cross-check the manuscripts and ensure their quality.

A Special Issue proposal should include the following 9 parts:
● Journal Title (In which journal that you want to publish a Special Issue);
● Special Issue Title;
● Lead Guest Editor (Including full name, email address, affiliation information);
● Guest Editor (Including full name, email address, affiliation information);
● Note: Affiliation information should include department/faculty, university/institute, city and country.
● Submission Deadline;
● Publication Date;
● Description: a 150-400 words summary about your Special Issue;
● If you have a sequence request of papers published in your Special Issue;
● If possible, provide a provisional paper listing of your Special Issue from potential authors, including author names, article titles. (Note: this is not required at proposal stage if not available).

Article Processing Charge (APC)

For the Special Issue manuscript APCs, here is the journal's policy:
● For Lead Guest Editors, they can publish one manuscript for free in the Special Issue, and enjoy 20% discount for the rest papers in the Special Issue.Note that the Lead Guest Editor must be the corresponding author of the manuscript.
● For Guest Editors and invited authors, they will enjoy 20% discount for paper publication service in the Special Issue.
● For common authors, the APCs are the same with the corresponding Journal in which the Special Issue is published. For more details, please pay a visit to: http://ijecs.org/apc